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Queen Elizabeth I letter

This letter was written by Queen Elizabeth I to the mayor of Coventry on 26 November 1569. It concerns Mary Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned in Coventry, probably in St Mary's Guildhall.

'Elizabeth R By the QueneTrusty and welbeloved we grete you well. Forasmuche as wee have for dyvers good considerations gyven ordere to our right trusty and right welbeloved Cousyns the Earles of Shrewesbury and Huntington to bring the Scottyshe Queene to that our towne of Coventrie and there to see hir safely kept and garded untyll our pleasure shall be other wyse to determine. We let your will or pleasure and commaundment is that for the better assystance of our sayd Cousyns and either of them in this charge committed unto them, you shall from tyme to tyme followe suche ordere and direction as shall for that purpose bee by them or either of them prescribed unto you in suche a wyse as they or either of them shall think fyt for the weale and furtherance of our service. Gevven under our Signet at our Castle of Wyndesor the xxvjth of November the xijth yere of our Reigne.